There are a few things you should know about playing on a multiplayer Minecraft server. Some servers are PVP only and others have different rules regarding griefing and stealing.
Do not troll in chat. This includes NSFW names, images, capes, signs and builds. Arguing with a moderator or admin over their enforcement of server rules is not acceptable and may result in warnings, temp bans or loss of access to the server entirely.
1. Don’t Dig Straight Down
One of the most important things a player can do when playing Minecraft is to avoid digging straight down. This is because there are many dangers that can occur underground, including falling into pools of lava or entering rooms with hostile mobs. If a player accidentally digs into any of these, they will likely take significant fall damage and possibly be swarmed by mobs.
Moreover, digging in a straight line can also lead to tunnel collapses that will destroy a player’s base. It is therefore best to dig at an angle, such as a 45 degree angle downwards and to place torches every fifth block. This will help players keep track of their elevation and ensure that they can climb back up safely.
In addition, it is recommended that players listen for water, lava or mob sounds (this can be aided by turning on subtitles) while mining in order to warn them of the presence of caverns, cliffs or other hazards. Alternatively, players can also use narrow shafts to mine downwards, which are safe as long as they are not too deep.
Another common mistake that many players make is to punch trees after their first log-in. This is a waste of wood, and more importantly it can cause the top half of the tree to become floating. Rather than doing this, players should wait until they have a crafting table and some tools, and then pillar jump to the bottom of the tree to get the sticks and saplings that are needed to progress in the game. This will also save them the time and resources of creating a ladder or axe. Moreover, it will allow them to use the trees to build more elaborate structures.
2. Don’t Steal
Many Minecraft servers are “Lord of the Flies” environments where kids can be exposed to bullying and exploitation. Server owners often sell (at outrageous prices) special weapons, armor and materials to players, tempting kids to spend their parents’ money. They also threaten to expel players from the server if they don’t pay up, meaning losing days or weeks of accumulated possessions and work.
Griefing is the destruction or alteration of another player’s structure that they built, owned, or had permission to build. It is considered a form of bullying and not allowed on any legitimate server. Many servers use plugins to protect players’ buildings, but even then, these systems are not fool-proof. Some players will simply take other people’s property, especially if the victim is a low-ranking player. Others will troll (annoy) other players by doing things like dropping their items into lava, stealing their items, spamming, or repeatedly killing them.
Some players will try to catch griefers by hiding their base underground and putting a spawn trap near where they spawn, or by using ender chests that have different inventory for each player. But the most effective defense against thieves is to ask before modifying someone else’s building, or by asking to be invited to their base before entering it.
It’s possible for players to reclaim their stolen property, but it can be a time-consuming process that involves searching through world data to find the thieves. Some players have suggested that naming stolen items could help identify them, but so far this hasn’t proved to be the case. It is also a good idea to make sure to keep all of your valuables in ender chests or Shulker boxes, and never leave them out in the open.
3. Don’t Grieve
At some point, play minecraft multiplayer servers users have experienced griefing. This can be as simple as someone blowing up a house you built without warning or more complex, like adding an exploding creeper to your structure to steal your valuables. It’s a fact of life that griefing happens, but there are ways to avoid it.
While griefers can be scary, the best way to deal with them is to report them to server admins and give a detailed explanation of the incident. It’s a lot better to have the griefer banned than to get mad and do the same thing in return, which can incite more griefing.
Griefing is not only common, but it can be extremely damaging to a player’s emotional well-being. It’s why Salen Tekinbas and the team behind ExperienceCraft were so deliberate in building a safe space for grieving players. The team includes volunteer and paid moderators who have undergone background checks and received crisis and grief training from Experience Camps and Connected Camps. Dedicated programmers have also created plugins to combat griefing. These can allow administrators to log and roll back edits on a block-by-block basis, create jails to trap griefers, and protect specific blocks or entire chunks.
However, it’s still important to keep in mind that you should never tell anyone where your base is unless you ABSOLUTELY trust them. If you reveal your home to a server admin, that admin could then tell another player who might then decide to pillage it for fun or out of revenge. This is a surefire way to lose your stuff and cause a lot of grief for other users, so don’t do it.
4. Don’t Set Traps
Players sometimes run into predators on Minecraft multiplayer servers. These are other players who either set traps to kill players or just want a piece of what they are playing for themselves. They may do this because they are bored or because they think it is funny. This is called “griefing,” and it can be extremely frustrating for other players. It is best to play on a well-moderated server, and to ask the permission of other players before destroying their structures.
Unlike some other games, Minecraft is not a violent game, but it can be dangerous for young children if they are on unmoderated servers. Children should only play on servers with parents and review the rules of each server before playing. In addition, they should not bring valuable items to the Nether and The End, as these are difficult to return from.
One common trap is a room with a pit filled with lava. It can be easy to find, but is often deadly. Another trap involves a room with two pistons that push up when someone steps on a pressure plate. This can be hard to detect, and many players will not see the trap until it is too late.
A less obvious trap is to place torches on only the left or right side of a cave wall, and then lead the player to the exit by following the torches. At the exit, they will be surprised to find that TNT is blowing up the cave and removing them from the world. This type of trap could also be used with books and a lectern to trap players into reading important information, only to find out while they are reading that the TNT is going off.
5. Don’t Leave Holes in the Dirt
Minecraft is a massively popular game that’s known for its infinite possibilities and high replayability. However, it’s not without its problems. Players need to follow certain guidelines to keep their experience pleasant and avoiding being griefed by other people.
The best way to avoid being griefed is by always ensuring that you have at least food, swords, pickaxes and an accessible crafting table. It’s also important to know where your respawn point is and how to get back there. And of course, if you see someone building near you, make sure to ask them if they mind if you build close by.
You should also make sure to avoid putting a base right on the world border as this will be raided by other players. Many servers will have a “world border” of around 5000 or 10000 blocks that no one can go past. This is to prevent raiding and protect new players from griefing.
Finally, be sure to block anyone that you don’t want to play with again. This will make it impossible for them to message you on Xbox Live or join your Realm. If you don’t want to block them completely, then at least don’t accept their invitations to any online games.
To connect to a multiplayer server in Minecraft, you’ll need to have an Xbox Live account and a gamertag. You can also set up your own private server at home, but it’s not recommended unless you’re familiar with networking. To get started, search for a server in the Multiplayer section of the Settings menu and either enter an address or hit the “Join Server” button. The second option will save the server to your list of multiplayer servers, making it easier to connect to in the future.
